Hapter two. recognizing your traits

1.

chapter
two
Recognizing Your
Traits

2.

Intelligence
• Intelligence is an important trait related to effective leadership. Intelligence includes having
good language skills, perceptual skills, and reasoning ability.

3.

Confidence
• Being confident is another important trait of an effective leader.

4.

Charisma
• Charisma refers to a leader's special magnetic charm and appeal, and can have a huge effect
on the leadership process.

5.

Determination
Determined leaders are very focused and attentive to tasks.

6.

Sociability
• Sociability refers to a leader's capacity to establish pleasant social relationships.

7.

Integrity
Integrity characteriz es leaders who possess the qualities of honesty and trustworthiness .

8.

SUMMARY
• This chapter describes the traits required of a leader. Social science research has provided
insight into leadership traits. Thousands of leadership studies have been performed to identify
the traits of effective leaders; the results of these studies point to a very long list of important
leadership traits. From this list, the traits that appear to be especially important for effective
leadership are intelligence, confidence, charisma, determination, sociability, and integrity.

9.

SUMMARY
• Because leadership is a complex process, there are no simple paths or guarantees to becoming
a successful leader. Each individual is unique, and each of us has our own distinct talents for
leadership. Those who are naturall y strong in the six traits discussed in this chapter will be well
equipped for leadership. If you are not strong on all of these traits but are willing to work on
them, you can still become an effective leader. Remember that there are many traits related to
effective leadership. By becoming aware of your own traits and how to nourish them, you will be
well on your way to becoming a successful leader.

10.

homew ork
Based on the scores you received on the Leadership Traits Questionnai re, what are your
strongest leadership traits? What are your weakest traits?